#BEDM Day 26: Wanderlust

As I missed this post on Sunday, I decided to do it today instead.

I have a dream to drive across the USA. Topher and I decided that when we do eventually get married that we will do this for our honeymoon. Take a month off and hit the open road! Here are some of my cannot miss destinations that I've added to my wishlist. 

Visit the Statue of Liberty in New York

Cliche but I have visited NYC twice and have missed it both times. I am determined to make it next time.

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Climb the hills in San Fransisco

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Take a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon

I've been to the Grand Canyon before with my family but my mum is afraid of helicopters so this remains on my to-do list. 

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Visit Disney Land

I visited about 15 years ago but barely remember anything so I would love to revisit and see where it all began!

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Stare up at the Washington Monument in Washington DC

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Go to Salvation Mountain

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Eat Lobster in Maine

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Stay at a Wigwam Motel

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Sit on the Giant Rocking Chair in Ohio

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Eat gumbo in New Orleans

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Get a cake from Carlo's Bake shop in New Jersey

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Take pictures in the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas

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I've got an ever-growing pinterest board for this trip! One day :)

What are your must do's for a USA road trip?

#BEDM Day 15: Photography

Now I'm by no means a photographer. I just like to point and shoot. But every so often I get a picture that every time I look at it makes me smile & transports me right back to the moment I took it. So here are a few of my favourites.

My cousin's wedding in Jordan. This shot is of my parents, my auntie & uncle and my cousin and her husband.

Cousin & husband's first dance taken with my trusty iPhone

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Petra, Jordan

Agra, India

Agra, India

Jaipur, India

Cornwall

Japanese Garden, Cornwall

Japanese Garden, Cornwall

Japanese Garden, Cornwall

Chester Zoo

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Manchester, UK

Do you like taking photos?

#BEDM Day 12: Food Glorious Food

Once a picky eater, I will now try pretty much anything once. And this has led me to some amazing experiences in the last few years. So here are a few of my favourite things from around the world.

Chocolate Mochi - Yo Sushi, UK nationwide

Squid ink ravioli - Blue Pig, Manchester

Daal, Naan & bombay potatoes - Random cafe at side of the road between Delhi and Jaipur, India

Lamb slider with tomato chutney - Epcot Food & Wine festival - New Zealand stand

Hot Butterbeer - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando

Mint Lemonade - Pancake house, Amman, Jordan

Afternoon tea - Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium, London

Watercress Cake - Random cafe in Lisbon, Portugal

Pastel de Nata, Belem - Portugal

Cannoli - Epcot Food and Wine Festival - Italy stand

Any mezze in Jordan

What meals stick in your mind?

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - The Extension

The final Florida post. One of the things I was most looking forward to while in Florida was visiting the new extension of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios. I'm happy to say it was amazing and it was so much bigger than I thought it would be. 

So it's time to photobomb you now!

Riding the Hogwarts Express was awesome! In case you don't know, you need a park to park ticket to ride the train. This is because the London/Diagon Alley side is in Universal Studios and the Hogsmeade/Hogwarts side is in the park next door, Islands of Adventure. So yes it costs extra to ride the train, very clever Universal!

So as we've seen the Hogsmeade side before, we mainly spent our time in the Diagon Alley section. There's a new ride and lots of new shops.

Fun fact: They now serve hot butterbeer in the new expansion. Finally! As a true fan, I have been saying for years that butterbeer must be hot. Taking my first sip, I knew this was the most amazing drink ever. (Note: You probably won't be a fan if you're not a sweet tooth!) I could drink this all day.

Between browsing the shops we decided to try the new Gringotts ride which I really enjoyed. Those who got a little motion sick on the Forbidden Journey will enjoy this more as you don't get tipped around as much. You're just on a track which is more traditional but there is still a 3D screen in some places. I would recommend it!

I loved walking through the colourful streets. Why is the UK so grey and red? 

We had lunch in the Leaky Cauldron which was cool but I have to admit that I prefer the food in the Three Broomsticks on the Hogsmeade side. Also if you're looking for a diet coke you won't find it in the Leaky Cauldron as my brother discovered. Wizard drinks only - sorry muggles! I personally loved trying all the new drinks but Pumpkin juice still remains my favourite (besides butterbeer of course).

There's lots of sausage dishes (bangers and mash, toad in the hole etc) so maybe that's why I didn't enjoy it as much. I had the lamb stew the first day and fish and chips the second. Both nice but I'm more partial to the rotisserie chicken. 

After lunch the next stop was the ice cream parlour where you could actually get butterbeer ice-cream! I liked the taste but as it was soft scoop and they give you loads, it got a bit sickly after awhile. I really enjoyed the earl grey and lavender hard scoop ice cream (much nicer than it sounds) as it was really light and unusual. Topher enjoyed the sticky toffee pudding and also the salted caramel blondie. 

I never get tired of looking at Hogwarts. Will be back soon I promise!